Tag: newmom

When I heard I would be receiving Freemie Collection Cups to review, I was beyond excited. Freemie Collection Cups were created to be a hands free and discreet breast pump milk collection system. Let’s be real, it sounds appealing, doesn’t it?

Why was I so excited to try these you ask? As a full-time school counselor and new mom, I was excited to try anything that would make pumping a little less dreadful. I mean, to have my hands free and not have giant horns popping out of my shirt? I’m all in.

When first opening the package, they included simple and easy to follow directions on what needed to be connected to each part (a few of the parts needed to be boiled first). These collection cups look nothing like the “horns” we’re used to. However, there are 3 major parts just like with the “horns.” You have the collection cups, valves, and then the shields/funnels. The collection cups each hold 8 ounces which is fabulous since I can usually pump over 5 ounces that the typical bottles hold. The valves are an awkward shape, however, they just click into the shields just like the “horns”. The shields (they call them funnels) are either 25 or 28 mm and both sizes are included. As a side note, I have a Medela Pump in Style pump which does not need any additional adapters, but some pumps do. The Freemie website shows which pumps need additional adapters. To use the Freemie with my pump, I just had to switch out the tubing and replace it with their tubes (included).

Usage: Freemie claims they fit into your bra and that you can pump with your shirt on. The collection cups stick out about two to three inches so I don’t know about you, but I can’t fit two-three inches into my bra. However, with a nursing bra I was able to unhook it as if I was going to nurse and slide them in. I usually wear a cami of some type under all my shirts, which also supports the collection cups. Once you get the hang of sliding them in, your hands really are free! The first time I used them, I was sitting there with a straight back (not even leaning over), my shirt on and free hands. It was like the Pumping Gods threw me a bone! As I was sitting there, I was thinking of all the possibilities since my hands were free. I picked up my phone, hopped on Facebook and relaxed for 15 minutes. If I’m super busy at work, it’s a great time for me to send out some emails uninterrupted while still pumping. After pumping a few minutes, I noticed that the collection cups started fogging up which was kind of a bummer because I usually keep an eye out for when the milk stops then I’m done compared to a certain “time” amount. (This is pretty expected, because it’s difficult to keep a product like this from fogging with the extreme temperature differences. However, Freemie is working on this!) After several uses I now know you can lean over a little bit and check the bottom where it has lines to show the ounces. I know about how much I pump during the day and use that method for now.

Once I was done pumping, I was able to just slide them out of my bra, take the tubing out (make sure you turn your pump off first or you’ll end up with milk in your tubes), take apart the collection cup system, and then pour the milk into a storage bag or container. Personally, I am able to pump in my office and then I put all the parts and my milk into a lunchbox and put it all in the fridge. I do wash out the Freemie collection cup system prior to putting into the lunch box. The collection cups are super easy to clean, too. I soak mine in hot soapy water every day after work, do a quick scrub then I lay them out to dry.

Overall, I love the Freemie Breast Pump Collection System! However, there a few cons. Like I said above, the cups get foggy and you are unable to see if the milk is still flowing. I find this to be the biggest downfall. In addition, the first few times you’ll likely get milk in the tubes (once you get used to it, it doesn’t happen often). It’s also not quite as discrete as they lead consumers to believe, but you are still able to pump with your shirt on, it just makes you look like you have giant boobs (and I mean giant). Even with these cons, I personally still think the pros outweigh the cons. They stay in place, are easy to put together/take apart and are truly hands free. I highly recommend Freemie to any mom!

– Cierra, Guest Blogger

Did you like our @freemieusa review? If so, order your own and get 10% off using code “burritobuzz10” courtesy of our pals at Freemie!

**BurritoBuzz received these products at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences and we never guarantee a positive review.**

What you research as an expecting mommy really doesn’t compare to real life when it comes to the pains of nursing!

Let’s just be real for a minute here. Nursing SUCKS! I know, I know, “But Amanda, you are advocating for breastfeeding, you talk about how beneficial it is, how amazing the bond is, and what a great thing you are doing for your baby, HOW could you say that??”…. Okay so all of that is true, yes, but that doesn’t mean that a tiny little human learning how to form their sharp little gums around your very sensitive nipples isn’t extremely painful sometimes. Why don’t people talk about the fact that it can be excruciating to have a previously innocent rack suddenly suckled within an inch of its life? It makes a new mom feel like she’s not doing it right, or something is the matter, or it wasn’t meant to be etc.

Moms who have been there and done that will tell you that you just need some time to let your nipples toughen up.

Lactation consultants and other breastfeeding experts will tell you there is no such thing as letting your nipples “toughen up” and that if it hurts, something is wrong and you need to fix it ASAP.

The reality, I think, is somewhere between the two. I don’t think that you necessarily need time for your nipples to toughen up, but I do think that any new mom and baby needs some time to get used to each other, and to get their new skill down right. I do think it is worth asking why it hurts and what you can do to manage and eliminate the pain.

As with anything in life, some people are quick learners and others are not. I think that is why it takes longer for some women to get over the pain than others.

END RANT! Simply put, it can and probably will hurt for a little bit. You might get chapped, cracked, scabbed, or even bleed. Or you might not! Thank heavens some mom/scientist found Lanolin. (I haven’t don’t any research on who created Lanolin, but I am just going to say it’s a woman crying over her nips being on fire!)

We gave some moms this brand of Lanolin to try out for a few weeks, and they came back with their very honest opinions!

Pros: During the first few weeks of breastfeeding this lanolin was very helpful in soothing sore nipples. It provided a lot of relief by creating a barrier on your skin, preventing even more irritation from clothes rubbing against your chest.

Another thing that you don’t really get told as a new mom is that not only can you get chapped but your new baby can too! My DH was so worried “Are you guys doing something wrong? Why does she have such chapped lips? How can I help? ….” Because you don’t have to wipe this lanolin off it helps your LO’s lips! {I have even put it on mine in a pinch! FABULOUS}

Last, but not least, there is no color or scent! <<< This is was super important to me, because I have severe skin allergies and did NOT want a rash on my nips! I have tried some that were yellow in color and actually stained my clothes!

Cons: One of our moms said that this lanolin “could have been a little thinner. The thickness makes it a little hard to apply, especially in such a sensitive area if you’re in pain.” This lanolin is a little paste like, and you might need to warm between your fingers first.

This brand of lanolin is a little bit more expensive than others, but you get what you pay for, and it is totally worth a few extra bucks! One of our moms actually just uses coconut oil rather than paying for lanolin, that is always an option if you aren’t too chapped.

This product has very little that moms don’t like! All of our moms rated it a 5 star product and would recommend it to their friends! A must buy, and an essential item to any registry!

UPDATE!

It is currently the middle of January, and my entire house is a snotty gross mess! I have been looking for something that would help with BK#1 and BK#2’s chapped nose and cheeks, and I remembered I had this! Not just for mommies!

It’s completely natural so you don’t have to worry about it ending up in their mouths, and its thick, so it stays on without wiping away in 30 seconds.

I just put a little on my finger and wiped it on after I wiped their nose. It made them look a little moist still, but it protected their sensitive skin from getting chapped!

I always use boogie wipes, but after wiping every other minute even those can cause some redness. Be sure you are washing your hands and following normal cold prevention too parents! I know I forget to wipe down some surfaces some times too, and its annoying to go wash hands a million times a day, but make sure we are all washing our hands throughout the day! Not just in the bathroom, or before we eat.

They no longer have chapped noses or cheeks, and it worked fairly quickly!!! I hope it works for you too!

Stay healthy and warm!!

~Amanda

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a postive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences with a product and we never guarantee a positive review.**

I will say this, before I say anything else: I usually LOVE anything that Munchkin makes! The brand is a staple in our home! Bottle racks, potty seats, sound machine, baby gates, toys, sippy cups, teethers, and the list goes on of their products that we have, but this thing made me hotter than fire!

Pros: It is large, so all of the bath toys we have would have fit in it! They come in really bright colors, and I liked that because I wanted something to entice BK#1 to put away her own bath toys.

I am going to be honest, those are the only good things about this product.

Cons: It’s really pricey for the product you get. Its not worth $13!!! ! And it didn’t work….like, not even for 5 minutes. It has 4 suction cups to hold it up on the wall. So, I thought, that’s overkill, but will help it hold the weight of the toys! WRONG! Not one of the suction cups would stay on the wall for more than a minute. Don’t even try to put any toys in it, or it and the toys will go tumbling. My DH and I tried everything we knew short of supergluing it to the wall, and we even googled to see if we could figure out how to get the suction cups to stick! Not one thing worked!

I really wish that I would have read the reviews on this product before I purchased this, because they are all saying the same thing. But, it wasn’t a researched purchase. It was an “Oooo I could use this” at Target and in the cart it went. Oh, and I threw the box away, so I couldn’t even return it!

I didn’t get a chance to really use this organizer, but I don’t think it would have drained the water well from the toys. Yes, there is an opening in the front, but the hole in the back wasn’t placed well. I imagine the toys would stay wet and get gross!

I will definitely be reading reviews before I purchase any more Munchkin brand bath toys.

Do you have a favorite bathroom organizer? Contact me or comment if you do!

When BK#1 was around 6 months old I purchased this diva of a bag! I was shocked by the price, but after looking at review videos, and looking at all the stats I HAD to have it! I am a bag girl, and my little Carter’s bag was not holding up! I knew that, in general, quality meant a higher price tag, so I sucked it up and went to my local boutique, {Shop local! Shop Local! SHOP LOCAL! I will get into that in another post, but its phenomenal what it does for our economy to shop small business! That is another post though! But, I mean it, either order online from a small business or go find one!} and purchased my first Ju-Ju- Be!

I will never go back!

All contents for two under two!

I said a while back, in a previous post that I would talk about my BFF! (Literally and physically- that’s the bag’s name) This diaper bag is my bag, by toddler’s bag, AND my 4 mo old’s bag! Keep reading and you will see how!

Front “mommy pocket” – I keep MORE than I keep in my small purse in this pocket!My contents: Notepad, pen, wallet,business cards, lipstick, sunglasses, perfume, anti- bac, tissues, vitamins (in case I forget to take them that day…it happens more times than I would like to admit), hair ties, bobby pins, and my portable phone charger.

Two under two requires a lot of organization period, but my diaper bag is very methodical and has some very specific items, so I thought I would share exactly what I pack in this gem, just to help you get an idea of what you might need!

I designate one back zipper pocket as another mommy pocket. I don’t want my toddler tossing tampons around the store when she decides that its time to open up and go through the diaper bag. So at least they are kind of concealed, sanitary, and away from grimy little hands!

In the opposite zipper pocket I keep some emergency ‘medical’ essentials. (You can purchase all of these items at Target or Babies R Us. The clippers are from babies R us, they aren’t my favorite pair, but they are pretty cool, because they have a light.)

Being a stay at home mom, we have the opportunity to visit grandparents and great grandparents a lot more than most. They typically don’t have baby essentials stocked in their medicine cabinets. So I like to have them with me just for emergencies.

I say ‘just for emergencies’ a lot, but it comes from experience! I have found I would rather have it in the bag, and not ever have to use it, rather than that one time where my toddler is losing her mind because her molars are coming in, I have tried every possible option to make her feel better, and I don’t have any Tylenol with me! I haven’t used that lanolin in 3 months, but the second I take it out of the bag, I will want it the next time I’m feeding in the Target dressing room! You just never know when you are going to need things like this as a mommy.

Diapering Items- I keep some sort of diaper paste and powder in the far right open pocket for easy access. My diaper cream is dependent on how their little butts are doing. This cream is my favorite for keeping diaper rash away. (Up and up’s version of aquaphor =half the price)

I also stand up my diapers, rather than lay them flat, to make them easier to pull out.

My babies wear Up and Up diapers and wipes, and although they are 17 months apart, they are only one size apart and their diapers look identical at quick glance. So, I separate with the wipes for easy access. I recommend keeping a few diapers for each baby. Your toddler might not even need a diaper while you are out, but it is always better to be safe than sorry!

I stack them on the left side with clothes on the bottom, nursing cover in the middle, and burp clothes on top.

In the side left pocket, and remaining two back pockets, I keep odd and ends: Binkies, bath supplies, plastic utensils, a few hair clips, toys, and teethers.

It looks a little like Tetris, but everything fits super easy!SNACKS – ‘Nilla wafers, yogurt raisins and a fruit/veggie squeezie.

Last, but not least, before I leave the house I always throw some snacks in! A full toddler is a happy toddler!!!

The bottom of the bag is structured and has luggage feet! This is super nice so your bag doesn’t get scuffed and/or ripped.

The entire bag is coated with their Teflon® fabric protector to help you wipe away any mess and prevents stains.

“Agion® treatment protects the liner by inhibiting the growth of odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew.”

Each corner has crumb drains, so when completely unzipped you can just shake the bag out!

Annddddddd ….Drumroll please!!! It is machine Washable!!!!!! Fantastic feature all in itself, because most bags of this quality are in a DO NOT wash category!

The only Con for this bag, is that it is pricey, and once you like it, you tend to want more. Don’t follow them on social media, or you will end up drooling and purchasing more!

Two under two is a blast! It’s a lot of work, and requires a lot of prep during nap times, but it is possible to not completely lose your mind….some days! I am 4 months in and I am learning new things every day to make life with babies a little less scary. What do you do to make life with babies easier?

I was so used to a standard of living, that revolved around ME. Coffee was optional, eyeliner mandatory, and anything short of a 15 minute shower was a sin especially if it didn’t include some great smelling exfoliate and my Clarisonic.)

Once that tiny human entered into the world? Game. Over. I seriously looked like I’d lived on the streets of Chicago for the past 5 years. No sleep. No time. Endless worrying. And the visitors. Ohhhhh the visitors.

I found myself scrambling to get my house clean and look presentable before people came over (and honestly, this hasn’t changed. Sure, my 9 month old is more independent now, but not so much that I really have “me” time. Showers are still 5 minutes long, and getting ready includes some quick makeup and taking a curling iron to my usually still-wet hair (don’t yell at me hair stylist friends! I know, this is bad.)

So, I figured I’d compile a list of items that made me feel ready for the day as a new mom.

Dry Shampoo: I’m the type of person that showers daily. I just have naturally oily skin and need to shower to feel clean all the time. But, I swear by dry shampoo (again, as a person with oily skin.) My favorite? Dove.

Yoga Pants: Not just any yoga pants, the good kind that sucks in the post-baby pouch.

A few cute, comfortable shirts that are larger than what you’d normally wear. I paired a ton of baggy shirts with yoga pants until I felt comfortable in my jeans again. And if you’ve had a c-section, you’ll really be thanking yourself for buying some comfy clothing.

Elf Eyeliner, and Estee Lauder lipstick. Not everyone loves makeup, but I do. I worked for Dior for a while, and my family is basically composed of various makeup-artist types. So, I needed a few things that would last through the day. Elf cream eyeliner, and an Estee Lauder lipstick always survived the chaos.

As always, take care of yourself. Vitamins, healthy eating, small workouts, and napping if you get the chance. All of this is easier said than done, but it makes a difference. (And to anyone dealing with some post-partum baby blues or depression, exercise and keeping yourself healthy will only aid you in getting back to your normal mentality.)

When Lansinoh provided us with product to review for them we enlisted some moms to help us with the process. We were so happy to get some very honest and thorough surveys about these therapy packs, along with our own opinions.

This product is a mommy favorite by a landslide! The therapy packs help you overcome engorgement, plugged ducts, and mastitis. You can form the packs all the way around your breast for relief all over, not just in one spot. There are two in a box, and can be used hot or cold! Cold – to help with swelling. Hot for relief from plugged ducts or mastitis, OR as a pump aid to help with let down and pump time.

Pros: Very easy to use! One of our mommy- testers said “I usually don’t respond to the pump very well and have a hard time getting much milk from pumping, but these warm packs really increase the amount of milk I am able to express. I‘m very impressed!” These packs stay warm up to an hour, so way longer than you would ever need them to pump!

These also help you fully empty, while pumping, to get the most out of your pumping session.

Freezing the packs works just as nice, staying cold for about 45 min for relief!

Cons: The only cons that some moms had, was that they get hot spots after being in the microwave. This problem is easily aided by squishing them around a little before applying them.

Also depending on size of breast, they slide around a little while pumping, so you have to get them sitting pretty good before you begin, or you will have a mess.

This product is great, everything that Lansinoh claims that it is and more. All of our moms gave it a 5 star rating and said that they would recommend their friends to purchase this product!

~Amanda

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a postive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences with a product and we never guarantee a positive review.**

Breastfeeding is a very personal and private thing for a mom that elects to do so. Although it is very rewarding, breastfeeding can be a lot of work, messy, painful, time consuming, and sometimes down right exhausting. The last thing you want to be doing as a new mom is trying to figure out what kind of breast pump you should purchase!

We gave two Lanisoh pumps to two moms and let them tell us how they REALLY felt about it. They really dove in and gave us their honest opinions!

Pros: This pump is very easy to put together, and to disassemble to clean. The parts are pretty self-explanatory, and if you don’t know what to do the directions are very well-worded. One thing that I personally LOVED was that all of the parts were dishwasher safe (there aren’t many on the market that are!)

Lansinoh’s pump has 3 stages with different pumping levels within each stage, which helps make pumping as comfortable as possible. One of the moms that tried out this pump for us especially liked this feature, because “It helped you get your pumping experience as close to the way that your baby nurses as you can with a pump”.

Unlike most pumps the flanges have a silicon rim for comfort which is really nice compared to hard plastic that is more typical to see.

Cons: When it comes to this pump, there are a lot more cons than pros. I really wished it worked better for the quality, and high price that it is. ($150 before taxes) Most features of this pump sound nice in theory, but it was really only appealing to the eye. Once you had to start using it, it wasn’t as functional as it could be.

The piping is a little difficult to store as it doesn’t wrap up very well since its super flexible.

The 5 oz bottle works in most cases, but a slightly larger bottle tends to be necessary when you have older babies.

While the silicon around the flanges is nice, the flanges were rather large for a “standard flange”! When I was using the pump I couldn’t get them to stay in place, or get a good suction going. There was a lot of adjusting, a lot of changing settings, and A LOT OF FRUSTRATION. After trying multiple times, and spilling many ounces of liquid gold I gave up.

What is the point of pumping if you ended up soaking wet, and bottles are half empty?

All of the parts are dishwasher safe, but there are a TON of parts! I don’t think I would have wanted to pump at 3AM having to think about cleaning it!! You know that you are going to get it very clean, but how long is it going to take you?

Lansinoh has some fabulous products, but they have some work to do with this pump before I would want to use it again. As a momma I really don’t want to spend so much time pumping. It has to be quick and easy! It’s a good product, just needs some fine-tuning! In the end though, a pump is a very personal item and there really are a lot to choose from! Do your research thoroughly!

~Amanda

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a postive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences with a product and we never guarantee a positive review.**

Pros: BK#1 LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this swing! I mean it was the only way I could get her to sleep in the first few months of life. Between colic and being a new mom this thing was a God send! (BK#2 Likes it, but doesn’t seem to fall asleep as easily in it.) It has 6 swing speeds, which is really nice because when they get up there in weight you need a swing with a little more umph.(This swing has a 30lb weight limit!) Multiple songs on the music setting, and multiple noises on the soothe setting (birds, heartbeat, water, and white noise). The seat itself can adjust to 3 different incline positions, and you can also turn the direction that the seat swings! Which was fabulous for our little apartment we were in at first with BK#1. My favorite part of this swing, that most swings don’t have, is the plug-in option! I hate buying batteries! Can’t stand it, and charging batteries is just as annoying. My second favorite part is that it is not only a swing, but also a bouncer. This was extremely convenient when the baby is sleeping and you want to take them with you into another room! Just lift and go, it was fabulous!

Cons: Did you see that there….was fabulous. Last night as I went to place my sleeping infant in the swing, and I found that the swing wasn’t working! The power light turned on, and the music worked, but the swing wouldn’t move. The motor had burned up. I called the company this morning and because I don’t have the paperwork etc. from purchase, and it is barely over the one year warranty mark, there is nothing they can do! Even though they admitted that it was a product defect. It was a shower gift, so of course I don’t have the paperwork a year later! (I registered at Babiesrus and it was purchased there) That is beside the point, a swing should last over year. If this swing hadn’t died on me I would be telling everyone to go buy a dozen of them! We seriously loved it! Sad, sad day! The swing is fairly large, so some people might not like it, but it worked well for us. Also, the vibration on the seat was pretty noisy and might wake a sleeping baby, or prevent sleep.

Overall, I was a little let down. Being a huge Graco fan, I expected the usual high quality product. This did not meet my expectations. Hopefully the company fixes the defect for future products!